"I can see this going on for many years really... It may be five or six years before...it depends on how long the attorneys can keep it tied up in court because they are definitely going to challenge it, there is no doubt about that," said Whalen.

Many of the Tribes in the area are against the mine, saying it will contaminate the water basin.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has been pushing for the bill's approval calling it the "Mining for Jobs" bill. He says the state will benefit from the thousands of jobs this mine will create over the next few years.